Floorball Goalie: Knees Down, No Stick

An introduction to the floorball goalie, who plays without a stick, can save with any part of the body and may use their hands inside the crease. Everyone takes a turn in goal with low shots and soft balls.

How to play

1. Explain the position: no stick, on the knees with legs spread to seal the floor and hands out to the sides; hands may only be used inside the crease (3 min).
2. In pairs on a thin mat: side shuffles on the knees and saves on balls rolled by a partner's hand (5 min).
3. Low shots from about six meters with a foam ball: the goalie saves with legs and hands and smothers the ball; switch roles every five shots (6 min).
4. Goalie throw: after a save, roll the ball by hand to a teammate getting open on the sideline (5 min).
5. 2v2 mini-game with a goalie in each net; goalies rotate every two goals so everyone plays the position (6 min).

Rules

• Low shots only, with foam balls, while learning the position.
• Nobody shoots until the goalie is set and looking.
• The goalie stays in the crease and never dives head-first for the ball.
• Field players never enter the goalie's crease.

Variations

Adaptations

• Knee injury: plays goalie seated on the mat, or standing with protected knees.
• Blind or low-vision students: use a ball with a bell, and the shooter calls out before each shot.
• Students afraid of the ball: start with slow rolled balls and decide when to move on to shots.

Learning goals

• Know the basic floorball goalie rules.
• Use a safe kneeling save position.
• Start play from the goal with a hand throw.

Equipment for a class of 25

• floorball sticks: 30
• foam balls: 10
• floorball goals: 4
• thin mats: 4
• cones: 12
• pinnies: 15

Teacher tip

If you don't have knee pads, thin mats in the goal are a must. In real floorball the goalie wears a face mask: here the foam ball and the low-shots rule take its place.

More activities like this

More main activities for Middle School